Bechloe - Control Your Woman

Chapter III

Another week had passed and Beca was proud when her boss told her that a music producer in L.A wanted to hear her work. Beca was over the moon when she heard the news and wanted to tell Chloe but unfortunately, the redhead had only gotten more uptight ever since their loss to DSM at the riff-off.

Chloe had been working the Bellas extra hard and it was taking its toll on all of them. The harder they worked the worse the seemed to get. Chloe was getting frustrated and started taking her anger out on her fellow Bellas and most of all, Beca.

It was dinner time and the Bellas were having pizza whilst watching a movie in the living room. Everyone was relaxing from another hard day of rehearsals except for Chloe who was upstairs working on their choreography.

"Hey, Beca," Cynthia Rose approached the brunette who was getting a drink in the kitchen.

"Hey," 

"Hey, ah, what's going on with Chloe?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, she's kinda uptight and real... bossy."

"Oh, that. Yeah, she's a little stressed out about the Worlds. She just wants us to do our best so we're prepared for when we actually perform on the big stage."

"She seems more than a little stressed. Have you talked to her?"

"Yeah, but nothing I say works. She just gets her back up and justifies everything she does. There's really no point talking to her when she's like this."

"Well, maybe you could try something else..." Cynthia Rose smirked, raising a suggestive eyebrow at the brunette.

Beca breathed a laugh.

"I'm serious! Nothing makes a girl feel better than a little love." She winked. "Either way, Becs, you need to control your woman."

"Yeah, I know..."

"Fiery redheads, hey?"

"Yeah... Fiery redheads."

~

Soon after Beca had eaten her dinner, she went upstairs to her bedroom to find Chloe still practicing.

"Hey, Chloe, have you eaten?" Beca asked, carrying a plate of pizza in her hand.

"No, I'm too busy."

"Well, I think you deserve a break. Come on," Beca placed the pizza on the bed and ushered Chloe over.

The redhead was hesitant but once she saw the pizza she realised just how hungry she was, so she sat down and ate.

"So, listen..." Beca spoke. "I think we should talk about how much work the Bellas are doing in regards to rehearsals."

"Oh, good, I was going to say the same thing."

"You were?"

"Yeah, I think we need to up their three hours a day to four, but we'll split it into two parts so two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening instead of just three hours straight."

"That's not what I was going to say."

"Oh? What were you going to say then?"

"Well, baby, I think you're being a little too hard on the team. They're exhausted and they've only gotten worse. You push too hard and they're not performing well. At this rate, we don't stand a chance against beating DSM at the Worlds."

"Nonsense! The girls just need to pull their heads in and work harder. Once they do that they'll be begging for more rehearsal time."

Beca sighed.

"Chlo, I'm not just saying this, I'm telling you that you're working them too hard and they need to rest. We need to cut back to an hour and a half rehearsal time."

"What!" Chloe shrieked.

"Four hours of training is too much! They won't be able to do it!"

"That's why I'm breaking it up into two parts!"

"It's too much, Chlo! The girls can't and won't take it! They're already losing sleep and not focusing properly, and you're constantly yelling at them and taking out your frustrations us, especially me!"

"Are kidding me? I'm the only one in this group who's trying to pull everyone together so we DO stand a chance against DSM at the Worlds! What the Hell are you doing?"

"Me? I'm the one putting together our set, thank you very much!"

"Yeah, you're in the background collaborating music while I'm busting my ass off trying to get everyone's asses off the ground so we're somewhat good enough to perform at the Worlds!" Chloe leaped up and paced the room.

"Chlo, I'm saying this because I love you, but you're becoming obsessed. You're very controlling and uptight. Everyone's nervous around you and I've heard some of the girls saying that they don't want to go to rehearsals next week."

"What? Who said that?" Chloe frowned.

"It doesn't matter. What matters is that we're losing our passion and not focusing on what's really important."

"Exactly! That's what I've been trying to fix this whole time!"

"No, you're trying to get them to focus on winning and beating some other team who doesn't give a shit if we lose! The Bellas are about working together as a team and having fun whilst doing our best to succeed. I keep telling you, Chlo, that it's not just about winning!"

"Then what is it about, huh? If we don't win the Worlds then there will be no more Bellas and my life will have no meaning!"

"No meaning? Are you kidding me?" Beca stood and faced her girlfriend.

"Yeah,"

"Chloe, you're not going to be a Bella your entire life! You have to leave eventually! You have to move on!"

"That's easy for you to say, Miss Future Music Producer! This IS my life! I'm working my ass off with these girls and all you can do is sit and critique how I do things!"

"The girls can't keep up with your routine! They're getting worse because of it!"

"So, it's my fault that we're failing?"

"Yes! You're turning into a control freak just like Aubrey!"

Chloe gasped. "You take that back!"

"It's the truth, Chloe, whether you like it or not. You are a control freak who only cares about winning and not about her fellow Bellas."

"You couldn't be more wrong."

"Oh, yeah? Well, why don't we go downstairs and see what the rest of the group thinks of your increase in rehearsal time and controlling behaviour?"

"Screw you, Beca!"

"Oh, I wish you would, it might actually calm you down."

"Now you're being a smart-ass?"

"No, I'm being realistic. I'm tired of you taking your anger out on the group and myself. As the leader of the Barden Bellas, I'm cutting our rehearsal time back to an hour and a half - five days a week."

"What!" Chloe nearly screamed at the shorter woman.

"You heard me. I'M the leader of this group and I'm putting my foot down. You may have been a Bella longer than I have but you have recently lost your way. So, until you calm down and let go of your control issues, you're no longer my co-leader."

Chloe's jaw nearly hit the ground.

"W, what?"

"You heard me. I'm going to lead this group on my own until you come to your senses."

"You can't do that!"

"I just did and if you don't like it, feel free to leave."

Chloe glared at Beca from across the room, clenching her fists tightly before storming out and slamming the door shut behind her.

Beca raked her fingers through her hair then kicked the bedside table in frustration. That was not how she planned their conversation to go.